A short while later, Comcast Sports New England's Tom Curran confirmed that Wilfork has indeed been tagged. The paperwork was filed Monday. Curran spoke with Wilfork's agent Kennard McGuire earlier Monday. McGuire simply said they are taking things "one day at a time." Using the tag now, of course, doesn't prevent a long-term deal from occurring later this offseason, which is Wilfork's ultimate goal. The Patriots just had to make sure that long-term contract didn't come with any other team first www.pft.com
Honestly, the odds of us getting Wilfork were very low. Does anyone seriously see the Pats letting him go to us? As much as I hate him, Belicheat is not dumb, and would not allow that to happen.
all I can say is they tagged him with a non-exclusive tag...which although is 2 1st round picks for him...is a slap to the face, because they easily could have given him teh exclusive tag...and he did say getting a tag would be a slap to the face I smell trouble a brewin....
Here's to hoping he plays with a chip on his shoulder, against his FO.... but I doubt it. From what I remember reading he wanted a deal for him and his family's well being. To play like crap out of spite isn't going to further that next year when he could potentially land a long term deal. But I don't think he'll be breaking his back for them either.
Its a move that had to be made by the Pats. Even though Wilfork did say before that getting the tag would be a "slap in the face." But the fact of the matter is that the Patriots now have exclusive rights to him. I highly doubt they will actually go into the season with Wilfork still under the tag. They now have extra time to negotiate a new deal with him, or find a trade that will work for them. If he hit FA he was gone to the highest bidder with no compensation to the Pats. There was no situation in which he was walking away for free.
See I have to respectfully disagree here, if he made it to FA, I believe Miami would have went after him quickly, if you are going to sink 25-30 guaranteed million into a free agent player, who would make more sense?? no good 3-4 works without a really good NT....
I don't think he signs for 2 reasons, unless he gets exactly the contract he wants from them..... 1) People aren't buying into their philosophy anymore, it was one thing when they were winning championships but they arent anymore (A. Thomas), coupled with Randy Moss's comments yesterday, simply the Pats don't pay big contracts.... 2) More importantly two words......Thomas Brady.....his contract is up after next year, and they will need ALL the guaranteed money to sign his arse....I don't not see the Pats spending a guaranteed 60-80 million next year to sign Wilfork, and Brady..... They try like heck to trade him (Wilfork), or franchise him again next year, or let him walk...but they tag him again next year too watch....the cap number for NT's are low...it is only 7 million this year...
I have to say I respectfully disagree. It isn't common for the Patriots to pay big contracts, however, Brady will certainly be an exception, as well as possibly Wilfork. I believe the Pats have chosen their battles already. They traded away Seymour to avoid paying the contract already. A move many speculated was either for the re-signing of Wilfork or Julius Peppers. Randy Moss is another key cog to which they are parting ways next year. I read his statements and he has to be upset that they are making an elite player, such as himself, play on the last year of his contract, and basically saying they will not resign him. I feel letting him walk will allow for the resigning of Tom. I also heard Adalius Thomas on ESPN radio about the Pats. Must say I loved it being a Fins fan and hearing of the Pats demise. However, looking at the moves they have made for the future seems to be putting them into position to contend. They may have given this season away, but to me it looks as though they are positioning themselves to contend in the future as well as anyone. I think that Wilfork could definately be traded. But my argument is that I do not believe they will go into the season with an unhappy franchise tagged Wilfork. Wow! A praise of the hated Pats was excruciating to write. So. In conclusion. The Pats still suck.
hahaha yes brother they do still suck...the Pats during their championship years, got away from the role player, championship hungry mentality and after their Bowls, and went more with buying up high priced free agents....A. Thomas, Moss, Stallworth (at the time was a very good upper echloen WR)....they got away from the Vrabels, the Ted Johnson's, the blue collar guys...I actually expect them to do a 180, as it has gotten them no where fast...I see them building through the draft, 3--2nd's this year, 2--1st's next year...I would actually be shocked if they signed Peppers, yet another FA with playability questions, and heart questions too...Brady absolutely they spend the scratch to sign him...and I bet they wanna sign Wilfork, but Brady gets it first, and that wont be this year, and in plus not sure Wilfork really wants to be there anymore...he may just say f-it I want to test the market...
Not a fan of Bellicheat, but you have to give him his props. The guy knows how to hold em and knows when to fold em.
Something I have not noticed in any posts or threads here, it occurs to me Nolan just might be the right guy to turn Soliai into a really solid NT. If he can do for Soliai in essence what he did for Dumerville, we might not NEED a Wilfork, hang on to Ferguson one more year, pick up a NT prospect for future development on day two of the draft or in FA, and Nolan might just have the right mojo to turn Soliai into our own Wilfork. Got nothing to back that up, just my optimistic viewpoint. And a LOT of hope
the 3 of them would go a long way to filling the remaining holes & are collective entirely possible to do
Actually Bryant and Parcells talk and text, they have patched things up well over a year ago.... Its still on for FA with him
That's the point I was making though, there was no way he was going to FA. The Pats were not going to let us get him, they know we need NT (everyone knows we're looking for an NT). They had absolutely nothing to lose by slapping the franchise tag on him. It cost them what, 7 mil this year? An uncapped year? Granted money is finite, but seriously that one was a no brainer in my opinion.
With Wilfork and Hampton both being tagged, the pool of startable free agents is drying up. That will drive up the competition for the remaining good players in free agency and in turn drives up the price. There are teams that won't be hesitant to spend the big cash like Washington and I don't think Miami will be willing to back up the Brinks truck. I could be wrong though!
Agreed bro, but bey a man can dream right....that and because he is one of the best, if not the best NT's in the game..... I go one better and say the Pats slap the tag on him again next year too...watch...they simply arent paying Brady and VW in the same year...ur talking 55-65 milly in guarnteed moo-la!!
